I am delighted to announce this morning that Jay Inslee — my representative in Congress and a true champion for economic security and environmental protection — will be speaking at NPI’s 2011 Spring Fundraising Gala (with all proceeds to benefit NPI), happening two weeks from tomorrow on Mercer Island.
If you follow national politics, you know that Jay has been a courageous leader on a great many issues, who has been unafraid to take tough votes. Jay voted against the creation of the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) in 2008, and more recently, he voted against extending the Bush tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires. He has stood up to save Internet radio stations and fought for net neutrality. And he has worked tirelessly to persuade his colleagues to invest in renewable energy so America can break its dependence on fossil fuels.
Jay is a true leader who walks his talk. He’s trustworthy and dependable. That’s why we’re so excited that he’s going to be joining Peter Steinbrueck, Scott Macklin, and Reuven Carlyle as speakers at our 2011 Spring Fundraising Gala.
If you haven’t bought a ticket to our event yet, now’s the time:
NPI needs your help today to continue organizing and mobilizing for change.
We know times are tough and things seem bleak. Funding for vital public services is being gutted while tax breaks for powerful corporations that are making big profits are being left intact. Congress and state legislatures are making shortsighted decisions… or they’re on the verge of doing so.
But if we want to do something about this sorry situation and prevent our quality of life from being further jeopardized, we need to strengthen our movement. We need to build infrastructure that enables us to communicate and organize more effectively. The other side is way ahead of us.
That’s why they’ve been able to frame the debate on their terms. We’ve been stuck in a purely defensive mindset for too long.
I founded in NPI in 2003 because I came to the realization that maintaining a permanent defense against Tim Eyman’s initiatives wasn’t enough. When we neutralize right wing initiatives, all we are doing is stopping bad things from happening to our region. Defense doesn’t move us forward.
NPI was created to help the progressive movement go on offense. We are here to empower fellow activists, to research and propose ideas that are in harmony with progressive values, and to reframe the debate.
But we can’t do this all by ourselves… your support makes what we do possible. We want to give you an opportunity to see in person how we’re stretching your dollars, meet other supporters, and hear from inspirational speakers, while enjoying refreshments and great music from local artists. That’s what our Spring Fundraising Gala is all about. We hope you’ll join us on April 28th.